Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has expressed gratitude following the announcement that his epic 2019 clash with Kelvin Gastelum will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The five-round interim middleweight title battle at UFC 236, which Adesanya won via unanimous decision, will join other legendary fights like Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar, Matt Hughes vs. Frank Trigg II and Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen in the promotion’s Fight Wing as part of the class of 2025.
“Very grateful,” Adesanya told The Mac Life in Sydney.
“I knew that was a special fight, a special moment in combat sports history. I even said on the camera when they had the cameras on me in the stadium, I said, ‘Hey Kelvin, that was us’ because it takes two to tango. That man can salsa.”
The Nigerian-born New Zealander reflected on his memorable statement before the fifth round, where he declared he was prepared to die in the octagon.
“That was the realest moment I think I’ve ever had in the cage,” Adesanya added.
“I meant every single word of it, and I returned the favour by trying to kill him. And he’s a hard man to kill. In the moment I wasn’t scared, I wasn’t scared of death. I just thought, ‘if this is how I go out, this is how I go out — but I’m going to die trying.’”
UFC CEO Dana White lauded the contest as one of the greatest fights he’s ever witnessed.
“This was an absolute war with the interim title on the line. Congrats to Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum on a fight that will always be remembered!” White said.
The 2025 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place this summer in Las Vegas.
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